Best 5 Southern Layered Banana Pudding Recipes

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In the realm of Southern desserts, few treats embody comfort and nostalgia quite like banana pudding. This classic dish, often served in elegant trifle bowls or humble mason jars, boasts layers of creamy pudding, tender banana slices, and crisp vanilla wafers, creating a symphony of flavors and textures that delight the senses.

This article presents a collection of delectable banana pudding recipes, each offering a unique twist on this beloved Southern staple. From the classic Southern Layered Banana Pudding, featuring a luscious homemade pudding and a generous topping of whipped cream, to the lighter and airier French Banana Pudding, made with a delicate custard base, these recipes cater to a range of preferences and occasions.

For those who prefer a no-bake option, the Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding offers a quick and easy alternative, using a combination of instant pudding mix and whipped topping. And for a touch of indulgence, the Chocolate Banana Pudding combines the classic flavors of banana pudding with the richness of chocolate, creating a dessert that is both decadent and delightful.

No matter your taste or dietary preferences, this collection of banana pudding recipes has something to satisfy every craving. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that celebrates the timeless charm of this Southern classic.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

SOUTHERN LAYERED BANANA PUDDING



Southern Layered Banana Pudding image

A friend's step-father's grandmother's recipe. The family originates in the South and this is a recipe always being passed down for posterity.

Provided by Meg Elisabeth

Categories     Desserts     Fruit Dessert Recipes     Banana Dessert Recipes

Time 25m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 cups milk
2 eggs
1 ½ cups white sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 (12 ounce) package miniature vanilla wafers
3 barely ripe bananas, sliced 1/4-inch thick, or more to taste

Steps:

  • Whisk milk and eggs together in a bowl.
  • Combine sugar and flour in a saucepan. Stir in milk mixture gradually. Place saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir mixture is the consistency of pudding, about 10 minutes.
  • Arrange an even layer of wafers in the bottom of a large bowl. Top with a layer of banana slices. Cover with a layer of pudding. Repeat layers with remaining wafers, banana slices, and pudding, ending with wafers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 490.5 calories, Carbohydrate 89.2 g, Cholesterol 56.3 mg, Fat 12 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 8.7 g, SaturatedFat 4.1 g, Sodium 196.6 mg, Sugar 48.7 g

SOUTHERN-STYLE BAKED BANANA PUDDING



Southern-Style Baked Banana Pudding image

If you like banana cream pie, you'll absolutely love baked banana pudding. Not only is there no pie crust to mess with, but I think the vanilla wafer cookies pair even more perfectly with the fruit and custardy pudding. We want the bananas to match the texture of the custard-soaked cookies, so make sure you buy them a week beforehand. Other than that, not much can go wrong with this simple Southern classic.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Desserts     Fruit Dessert Recipes     Banana Dessert Recipes

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 large eggs
½ cup white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon banana liqueur
1 tablespoon cold butter
3 very ripe bananas, or more to taste, sliced
1 ½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 (12 ounce) package miniature vanilla wafers
⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons white sugar

Steps:

  • Separate eggs, placing the whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and the yolks into a saucepan.
  • Add sugar, salt, and 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour to the yolks. Splash in about 1/4 of the milk and start blending mixture with a whisk. Pour in remaining milk and whisk until smooth.
  • Cook and stir mixture over medium heat until hot to the touch, occasionally dipping your finger in to test. Whisk constantly until custard is thick enough to form ribbons.
  • Remove custard from heat and add vanilla extract, banana liqueur, and cold butter. Whisk until butter dissolves. Set custard aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Toss banana slices with lemon juice.
  • Spread a quarter of the custard over the bottom of a baking dish. Add a single layer of vanilla wafers. Cover with 1/2 of the bananas and spread 1/2 of the remaining custard on top. Add another layer of vanilla wafers, using slightly fewer this time. Top with the remaining bananas and custard. Smooth the top and tap dish against the counter to settle the pudding.
  • Add cream of tartar to the egg whites. Beat using the whisk attachment until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff, but not dry, peaks form. Spread meringue over the pudding using a soft spatula, creating ridges for contrast.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until meringue is nicely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 408.3 calories, Carbohydrate 64.4 g, Cholesterol 101.7 mg, Fat 13.5 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 8.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 272.2 mg, Sugar 25 g

SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING



Southern Banana Pudding image

This is an old Southern recipe, featuring a comforting custard layered with bananas and vanilla wafers, then topped with a meringue. I serve it all year-round...it's a nice ending to most any meal.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 2% milk
2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
36 vanilla wafers
3 medium ripe bananas, cut into 1/4-inch slices
MERINGUE:
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Stir in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from heat. Stir a small amount of hot milk filling into egg yolks; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; gently stir in butter and vanilla. , In an ungreased 8-in. square baking dish, layer a third of the vanilla wafers, bananas and filling. Repeat layers twice., For meringue, beat egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edges to sides of dish. Bake until meringue is golden, 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts :

SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING



Southern Banana Pudding image

Not-too-sweet vanilla custard gets a blanket of soft toasted meringue in this Southern-style banana pudding. We let the pudding base sit overnight so the cookies soften and the banana flavor infuses the custard, but if you like your cookies crisp, top the pudding with meringue and bake without resting.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 8h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Kosher salt
4 large eggs, separated, yolks lightly beaten
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 ripe medium bananas (about 1 pound), thinly sliced crosswise (about 2 1/2 cups)
50 vanilla wafers, such as Nilla Wafers (about half a box)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Steps:

  • Heat 2 1/2 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
  • Whisk 3/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
  • Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, and then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the milk in the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the mixture come to a simmer. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.
  • Layer a third of the pudding, half the banana slices and half the vanilla wafers in a 9-inch square baking dish. Layer with half the remaining pudding, all the remaining banana slices and all the remaining wafers. Top with the last of the pudding. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the pudding surface, and refrigerate overnight to soften the cookies.
  • Position a rack in the upper third of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bring the egg whites to room temperature. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium-high, and slowly sprinkle in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar a tablespoon at a time, whipping for 15 seconds after each addition, until glossy firm peaks form. Spread the meringue on top of the pudding with an offset spatula so it reaches the edges of the pan. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

DEEP-DISH LAYERED BANANA PUDDING



Deep-Dish Layered Banana Pudding image

As if banana pudding weren't luscious enough on its own, we've gilded the dessert lily and layered it with vanilla wafers and a sweet pecan topping.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 3h45m

Yield 16 servings, 1/2 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 11

46 vanilla wafers, divided
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
2 cups cold milk
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
4 bananas (1 lb.), sliced
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350ºF.
  • Crush 30 wafers; mix with next 4 ingredients. Spread onto bottom of rimmed baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 8 to 10 min. or until golden brown, stirring after 5 min. Cool.
  • Beat pudding mixes and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. (Pudding will be thick.) Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP.
  • Layer 1/3 of the crumb mixture and half each of the bananas and pudding in 2-qt. bowl; repeat layers.
  • Beat cream cheese and granulated sugar in medium bowl with mixer until blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the remaining COOL WHIP; spread over top of dessert, sealing to edge of bowl. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Refrigerate 3 hours.
  • Serve topped with remaining COOL WHIP and whole wafers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 300, Fat 15 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 300 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 3 g

Tips:

  • Use ripe bananas for the best flavor. Overripe bananas can be used but they may be too mushy.
  • Don't overmix the pudding. Overmixing can cause the pudding to become tough.
  • Chill the pudding for at least 4 hours before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and the pudding to set.
  • Garnish the pudding with whipped cream, banana slices, or vanilla wafers before serving.
  • If you don't have time to make the pudding from scratch, you can use a store-bought vanilla pudding mix.
  • This recipe can be made ahead of time. Simply prepare the pudding and assemble the layers up to 24 hours in advance. Then, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Conclusion:

Southern Layered Banana Pudding is a classic Southern dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. Whether you like it classic or with a twist, this pudding is sure to please everyone. So next time you are looking for a delicious and easy dessert, give Southern Layered Banana Pudding a try. You won't be disappointed!

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